POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
Go! Rafa! Go!
Emmanuel Ryan R. Gamlanga1, Mherwin F. Marindo1
1Department of Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
Polytechnic University of the Philippines
ABSTRACT
Games with survival and rage elements
are entertaining. One would find them
enjoyable and, at times, frustrating to play.
Currently, there are hefty amount of that
type of games available to be downloaded
from Google Play Store, and seems to be
popular for different audiences.
The purpose of this study is to make such
game that offers survival and rage elements.
A game that users would find entertaining
and frustrating to play. For this study, the
proponents utilized the Agile model which is
a methodology for improving the quality of
software and the overall development
process. The result and findings of the study
revealed that the Go! Rafa! Go! game
successfully meets its objective of running
well on Android devices and on providing
entertainment to its players.
Keywords — Polytechnic University of the
Philippines, Bachelor of Science in Computer
Engineering, Android Game, Rage Game,
Platformer
1. INTRODUCTION
Games, from then until now, did not fail to
provide us entertainment. Whenever we
have free time or just have nothing to do,
often we play games.
Currently, in the modern society we live in,
mobile games are the way to go. Almost
every person nowadays would have their
own mobile phone. Therefore, this gives
mobile games an edge against other game
consoles. The portability of the mobile
phone makes it that wherever you are, if
your mobile has charge, you can play your
favorite games anywhere.
Mobile games have different genres,
ranging from puzzle, role playing games
(RPGs), multiplayer online battle arenas
(MOBAs), massive multiplayer online role-
playing games (MMORPGs), idle games, etc.,
available from online sources. Among these
genres, there is one that can be said as one of
the popular genres, rage games.
Rage games are games that are designed to
frustrate its players using its game elements.
From having hard mechanics to just plain
absurd difficulty, it has elements that makes
completing a level hard to beat. However,
this does not prevent players from playing
these games, it does the opposite. Instead of
players turning their backs on such games,
the players are raring to make a go. Some
plays it because of the achievement of
completing it, and the others, just wants to
prove that they have the skills.
1.1 Background of the System
The researchers aim to make a rage game.
A game that can provide frustration and
entertainment at the same time. A game that
feels good if one were to beat it. This is
where the proponents decided to develop
the game called Go! Rafa! Go!.
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Go! Rafa! Go! is a game with sixteen levels.
Each level requires Rafa, the game’s main
character, to traverse the three platforms to
avoid getting too close to his enemies while
picking up the required amount of coins to
advance to the next level. However, it won’t
be easy as more enemies and obstacles
would be unlocked as Rafa advances levels.
The game ends when Rafa successfully
completes all sixteen levels.
Go! Rafa! Go! would be made using Java
programming language. The game would
then be ported to Android, and for such
reason, the Integrated Development
Environment (IDE) that would be used is
Android Studio.
1.2 Objectives
Entertainment
The game should be entertaining to
its players and would be able to provide an
experience that will not let the players get
bored easily.
Rage Game Element
The game should have a rage game
element that would give players pressure
and difficulty on completing the game.
1.3 Scope and Limitation
The game would only be supported in
mobile phones with Android operating
systems and would target the general
audiences as its players. The game would be
about a character that would continuously
dodge enemies and obstacles. The character
would have to traverse the transform to
avoid getting by hazards whilst getting the
required coins needed in order to advance to
the next level. The game would be available
to be played anywhere even without the use
of internet.
1.3 Significance of the Study
The significance of this study is that the
game would be able to provide its players an
entertaining experience. The difficulty of the
game can also help the players improve their
skills and enjoy competing with their friends
or other players.
Moreover, the study would also help the
researchers know more about Android game
development, thus improving the skills of
the researchers and would be able to gain
more understanding towards software
engineering.
2. METHODOLOGY
2.1. Method of Research
In conducting this study, the researchers
used the Agile model. It is a process that
consists of a detailed plan describing how to
develop, maintain, replace, and alter or
enhance specific software iteratively. The
researchers used this model because the
game needs to be delivered rapidly and
needs to be updated occasionally, if new
game elements needs to be added for the
entertainment of the game.
2.2. Data Gathering Procedure
Data for the study were collected by
researching on rage game elements and on
the programming language used and its
structure.
The proponents researched about the
essential elements for the game to be called
a rage game. This helps the researchers to
understand more the rage game genre and
therefore, allows the researchers to come up
with various idea on how the game and its
elements would turn up. The proponents
then researched about the programming
language to be used and how to develop an
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android application using that programming
language. The IDE that was used was studied
as well. This allows the researchers to be
more comfortable with the development
cycle, which allows the game to be rapidly
developed and be tested.
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
3.1 Images of the Game
makes it possible for them to not get bored
easily.
3.2.2 Rage Element
The rage element of the game is based on
its difficulty as the player progresses. Each
level, new or improved enemies or obstacles
would toggle, therefore making it harder as
the player gets near to the final level. This
makes it so that levels near or on the final
level would pressure the player, for if the
player dies, the player should start all over
again from the beginning.

3.3 Survey Results

The survey results of the Go! Rafa! Go!
Figure 1. Go! Rafa! Go! main menu
game from the students and faculty/IT
employees regarding the game were
presented in the table below. The game was
evaluated in terms of functionality, usability,
compatibility and performance efficiency.

Table 1. Survey Results

OVERALL
SPECIFICATION
S INT F/IT INT
Figure 2. Go! Rafa! Go! loading screen FUNCTIONALITY 4.56 A 4.01 A
USABILITY 4.57 A 4.11 A
COMPATIBILITY 4.51 A 4.12 A
PERFORMANCE
4.54 A 4.15 A
EFFICIENCY
Legend: Student (S), Faculty/IT Employee (F/IT),
Interpretation (INT), Strongly Agree (SA), Agree (A), Neutral
(N), Disagree (D), Strongly Disagree (SD)

Figure 3. Go! Rafa! Go! main gameplay
3.2 Objectives of the Game
3.2.1. Entertainment
The entertainment of the game mainly
relies on its gameplay. Its capability to make
its players keep playing it. The constant
dodging of obstacles makes it so that it has
that entertainment factor. Keeping the
players on constant pressure of a game over
4. CONCLUSION
This study was able to provide its players
with entertaining and frustrating experience.
The increasing difficulty of the game in each
level makes the game more interesting and
tougher to beat. However, this does not
hinder its players to play the game. Overall,
the rage game element of the game made the
game more fun and entertaining to play.

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4.1 Recommendation Mherwin F. Marindo is a 5th year Computer

The researchers of this study would Engineering student from the Polytechnic
recommend to other researchers that would University of the Philippines. He likes to play
pick up this study to improve the User games and basketball with his friends.
Interface (UI) of the game and possibly, Mherwin is playful.
improve its gameplay. This is to improve the
appeal of the game towards its players and
to keep the game more fun and tougher to
beat.

5. REFERENCES
[1] Hill, Simon (2019). Games Rule The App
Stores: Most Popular Genres Revealed 2019.
Retrieved from
https://www.localizedirect.com/posts/most-
popular-game-genres-revealed.
[2] Greenslade, Amanda (2006). Gamespeak:
A glossary of gaming terms. Retrieved from
https://web.archive.org/web/20070219082328/
http://www.specusphere.com/joomla/index.ph
p?option=com_content&task=view&id=232&
Itemid=32.
[3] Osetskyi, Victor (2017). SDLC Models
Explained: Agile, Waterfall, V-Shaped,
Iterative, Spiral. Retrieved from
https://medium.com/existek/sdlc-models-
explained-agile-waterfall-v-shaped-iterative-
spiral-e3f012f390c5.
[4] Conder, Shane, Darcey, Lauren (2010).
Learn Java for Android Development:
Introduction to Java. Retrieved from
https://code.tutsplus.com/tutorials/learn-java-
for-android-development-introduction-to-java-
-mobile-2604.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Emmanuel Ryan R. Gamlanga is a 5th year

Computer Engineering student from the
Polytechnic University of the Philippines. He
is good in programming. Ry likes to play
games, have fun, and foreign novels in his
spare time.